The Last of Us

The Last of Us stands tall as one of the defining experiences of the PS3 era, known for expertly blending survival horror gameplay with deeply humane storytelling. Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic adventure follows Joel and Ellie across a ruined post-apocalyptic America, and the gameplay balances tense stealth encounters with quiet, character-driven moments that keep you glued to the edge of the screen at all times. Combat feels desperate and grounded, emphasizing judicial use of resources and quick thinking. What truly elevates the game, however, is its writing and performances, which help it be relevant to this date.

Demon’s Souls

We’re talking the 2009 original not the 2020 remake. Demon’s Souls suffered through troubled development due to unfocused vision before meeting lukewarm reception following its demo reveal, with the most seething criticism decrying a game with unreasonably difficult gameplay and outdated world design. Well, how wrong was that?! Combat and world-building ended up being the very things Demon’s Souls drew acclaim for, establishing the FromSoft blueprint for Dark Souls and beyond.     

]]> 605936 https://gamingbolt.com/15-best-linear-games-of-all-time-2024-edition Wed, 27 Nov 2024 17:04:48 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=605160 There’s still a microcosm of negativity surrounding linear video games. Tightly designed corridors, set paths, concise storylines, in fairness these elements can reduce player agency which isn’t desirable for everyone. However, if you’re after an experience that’s more thoughtfully crafted, and you’re not bothered about replaying games for their stories only, then linear games are the way to go. What the games on this rundown demonstrate too is that in designing games linearly developers make room for other components – innovative gameplay mechanics, extensive development across all characters, more attentively curated world design, that sort of thing.

There’s a degree of debate surrounding linear games and their truest definition. For this feature, we’re thinking along the lines of games that have a set beginning, middle, and end, with progress shared somewhat identically between every playthrough. Open worlds, Metroidvanias, back-tracking, games centred on exploration, these don’t tend to fit. There is wiggle room in this ruleset though, as you’ll find out in the feature.

The Last of Us Part II

We speculated on our 2023 linear games list that in terms of gameplay experience The Last of Us Part II is probably better than Part I, so it’d be remiss to exclude Naughty Dog’s masterful sequel to their much-loved (and much-hated) apocalyptic adventure series. Ellie’s a litter older although still hot-headed, plus there’re more characters, denser locations, and a gut-wrenching, if controversial, story which will stir emotion whether you agree with the narrative decisions Naughty Dog made.

]]> 605160 https://gamingbolt.com/15-ps3-games-that-would-absolutely-shine-as-ps5-remakes Wed, 10 Apr 2024 12:34:50 +0000 https://gamingbolt.com/?p=582654 Despite the lack of first party exclusives this year, the PlayStation 5 has been absolutely killing it with its PS3 remakes such as the likes of Demon’s Souls and The Last of Us Part 1, but there are so many more games of that generation that deserve to get that treatment as well. With this feature, we take a look at 15 such games that need to be remade for the PS5. We have quite a bit to cover, so let’s dive right into it.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves 

After a strong start with the first game, Naughty Dog really came into its own element with the sequel. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves told an enthralling story punctuated with thrilling set pieces and memorable characters, and it’s a game that surprisingly holds up well to this date. A PlayStation 5 remake could take full advantage of current-gen horsepower and deliver stunning visuals and smoothed-out gameplay, making for an experience that would feel completely new and fresh.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Metal Gear Solid is making a comeback with an upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, but the entry that is in the most desperate need of a remake has to be Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. And that’s not just for introducing the game to a new audience, but also because Metal Gear Solid 4 is locked on the PS3 and there is no legitimate way for current-gen console owners to enjoy this classic. We are hoping that the next remake after Delta Snake Eater will be this one, so there’s no harm in keeping your fingers crossed as well.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West 

Before Ninja Theory worked on Hellblade and eventually got acquired by Microsoft, it delivered an amazing action adventure in the form of Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. Released in 2010, Enslaved was a game that provided a fresh take on the classic novel Journey to the West. With its interesting gameplay ideas based on cooperation and fresh world design, Enslaved was a game that had plenty of merits to its name. Of course, it wasn’t a flawless experience by any means – which is why we need a remake for this classic. Ninja Theory could use its current-gen technology and learnings from subsequent projects to create a game that’s bigger and better than the original in every regard.

Red Dead Redemption

Rockstar Games delivered an amazing Wild West epic with Red Dead Redemption. John Marston’s tale of redemption is worth experiencing through to the end, but sadly it’s a game that’s locked on the PS3 and Xbox. While there is a remastered version available for current-gen consoles, it’s a barebones port that is in dire need of substantial improvement. As such, having a ground-up remake for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S would be really appreciated by both returning fans and those who played Red Dead Redemption 2.

Dead Space 2

EA Motive delivered an excellent reimagining of the first Dead Space with its recent remake, and we can’t help but ask for a similar remake of the second game as well. Fans of the franchise would agree that Dead Space 2 was the series at its absolute peak, and getting to experience all that through a new lens is something that has us salivating at the very thought of it all. Given the success of the first remake, it’s obviously possible that something like this might happen in the near future – so keep your fingers crossed. 

Fallout 3

Set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic US, Fallout 3 takes players on an unforgettable journey filled with tons of meaningful quests and characters that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Despite those merits, it’s not easy to play Fallout 3 for players accustomed to modern gaming conveniences – which is why we so desperately need a remake of this classic. With no new single-player Fallout game in sight, we could do with a reimagining of Fallout 3 for the time being.

Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs might feel like a cheap GTA clone at first glance, but the moment you look past that initial veneer – you will find a surprisingly fun open world with a complex web of different mechanics that come together to create something special. It’s well and truly a game of its time, and it deserves to be re-introduced to a brand new audience with a fresh coat of paint. It’s a difficult task considering that the original developer United Front Games closed its doors in 2012, but there’s no harm in having some hopes. Right?

Resistance: Fall of Man

Insomniac Games’ Resistance series was Sony’s answer to Microsoft’s Gears of War, and the similarities ranging from a post-apocalyptic backdrop to the opposing alien forces are readily apparent. But despite those similarities, Resistance: Fall of Man is a solid first-person shooter with plenty of spectacle and set pieces which makes it such a great game to remake at a time when PlayStation is known for its cinematic blockbuster experiences. Apart from that, Sony has a very evident lack of first-person shooters in its roster of exclusive IPs, so bringing Resistance back would also help diversify its portfolio.

Vanquish 

PlatinumGames is known for its slick action and spectacle like seen in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and Vanquish is a game that’s emblematic of those very strengths. This third-person action game features a rather unique gameplay loop that makes cover-based shooting an extremely fun activity through the use of power slides and slow motion, and it’s a game that has surprisingly stood the test of time. That being said, not many people actually tried Vanquish back in the day – and a full-fledged remake with modern graphics and smoother animations would be right up the alley of many gamers.

Dark Souls 1

FromSoftware perfected what they started with Demon’s Souls with 2011’s Dark Souls, and it instantly became a game for the history books. Thanks to a meticulously crafted world with distinct levels and memorable boss fights, Dark Souls was able to win the hearts of thousands upon thousands of fans. But it would be wrong to say that Dark Souls doesn’t have its fair share of problems, both stemming from the technology at the time and also a few quirks related to its design. But with a full-fledged remake, FromSoftware can take its learnings and create a game that’s better than before. 

inFamous 1

Sucker Punch Productions of Ghost of Tsushima fame made its reputation as one of Sony’s top talents through the inFamous series, which provided a thrill ride through an open-world filled with interesting missions and side activities alongside a morality system that significantly changes your playstyles and skill trees. The first game has arguably aged the worst, which is why it would require a full-fledged remake for the PS5. 

Motorstorm

Motorstorm was a rather unique offroad racing experience where players get to choose from different vehicle types to win the race. It combines high-octane racing with destruction mechanics to make for an experience that’s unlike anything, and it retains that status even after all these years. Between this and the fact that not a lot of players actually picked it up back in the day, Motorstorm is the perfect candidate for a full-fledged remake that could introduce this experience to a brand-new audience.

L.A. Noire 

L.A. Noire is undoubtedly one of the most creative games in Rockstar’s wide array of open-world offerings, and a lot of that falls down on the impressive detective work that players get to do in the myriad of cases available to solve across its vast space. The developer used cutting-edge facial modeling to make conversations with subjects more meaningful, but many of those ideas were obviously limited by the technology of the time. But now that we have modern engines like Unreal Engine 5 with features like MetaHuman toolkits, a remake of LA Noire could finally fulfill its complete creative vision in earnest.

The Elder Scrolls: IV Oblivion

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is an expansive RPG with a complex web of systems and dozens of quests for players to complete. It’s safe to say that it was also ahead of its time in so many ways, which is why it is the perfect fit for a full-fledged remake for current-generation systems. Getting to explore the mystical beauty of its world in high definition will be a dream come true for fans of the genre, and while the chances of it all happening anytime soon are pretty slim – we can at least hope.

Batman Arkham Asylum

Rocksteady’s debut Batman Arkham game might just be its most focused game in the series. Each room in the asylum is meticulously designed, and the interconnected nature of the levels combined with memorable boss fights really makes it feel like a living, breathing place. But it’s also true that the game hasn’t aged all that well after so many years and subsequent entries in the series, so a remake that brings the features and mechanics from modern games would result in an instant hit.

Sunset Overdrive

Despite launching in 2014 as an Xbox One exclusive (eventually arriving for PC), Insomniac Games’ Sunset Overdrive is still a classic that deserves more recognition. Its humor may not be for everyone, but the bombastic style and presentation, over-the-top combat and fluid movement, which would go on to inspire Marvel’s Spider-Man, all combine seamlessly. Coupled with an open-world playground littered with stuff to do and a compelling story, it’s a shame that more people didn’t play it.

Prey

Arkane Austin is dragged for Redfall, rightfully given its quality, but also because of its previous effort, Prey. As a reboot of the Human Head Studios’ FPS, it’s an immersive sim with a unique sci-fi setting and moral consequences from the perspective of one Morgan Yu, stuck on the Talos 1 station. Unfortunately, despite its well-designed environments, nuanced gameplay and frighteningly intelligent Typhon enemies, it failed to really make an impact sales-wise. Nevertheless, it’s still one of the genre’s best.

The Evil Within 2

You have to give credit to Tango Gameworks. Following the reception to The Evil Within, it returned to the drawing board and crafted a sequel superior in almost every way. Better graphics, more memorable sequences and terrifying scares, vastly improved gameplay and a story continuation that made us care more about protagonist Sebastian Castellanos and his family. Of course, as the story goes, it saw underwhelming sales and faded into the background. On the bright side, at least the developer bounced back and saw massive success with Hi-Fi Rush.

Days Gone

Bend Studio’s Days Gone is an interesting case – it sold millions, but many never tried it out until it came to PC and was offered free on PlayStation Plus. Its critical reception also left much to be desired, especially considering the high bar of PlayStation exclusives. Those who gave it a chance found a compelling open-world zombie shooter with interesting activities and an intriguing protagonist (despite some horrendous writing in sections). Fans still lament what could have been following reports of a proposed sequel being canned.

Nex Machina

Nex Machina is the final hurrah to Housemarque’s arcade shoot ’em ups and bullet hell titles (or so we thought at the time). A twin-stick shooter that combined elements from Robotron and Smash TV, even bringing on original designer Eugene Jarvis as a creative consultant, it offered gorgeous voxel graphics and fast-paced, intense action. Critics may have embraced it, but the sales said otherwise, leading to Housemarque famously stating that “Arcade is dead.” Fortunately, it didn’t stray far from its roots when it delivered the acclaimed Returnal for PS5.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

With all the high-profile exclusives on the GameCube, from Metroid Prime to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, it’s a miracle that various third-party titles stood out. Silicon Knights’ Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem sadly wasn’t quite there, despite combining a long-running horror saga with multiple protagonists with an innovative Sanity system that messed with player perception in a fourth-wall-breaking fashion. Even with rave reviews for its story, mechanics and scares, it never received as much attention as the genre’s greats. Hopes for a sequel were buried long ago, but when it comes to compelling horror stories in video games, Eternal Darkness is still one of the greats.

Oxenfree

All these years later, and even with a sequel, the original Oxenfree remains as compelling and unique as ever. The story of Alex, who ventures to Edwards Island with her friends, alternates between teen drama and compelling supernatural mystery with incredibly well-written dialogue. Even better is the dynamic dialogue, allowing one to respond however they wish, leading to different results (and endings). Memorable stories come and go in the games industry, but Oxenfree’s deserves to be highlighted more.

Jusant

In this era of climbing games, where many emphasize the difficulty and frustration that comes from falling down on all that you’ve ever known, DON’T NOD’s Jusant hits differently. Despite its post-environmental disaster world, it offers a relaxing and meditative vibe as you scale a mysterious rock and attempt to piece together the history of its residents. With responsive controls and interesting platforming challenges that never get frustrating, Jusant is a remarkably chilled-out time.

Stories Untold

You probably heard of No Code for their work on the upcoming Silent Hill: Townfall, but horror adventure Stories Untold remains their most memorable work. It’s a surreal experience, seemingly starting as a series of standalone episodes before connecting incredibly. With unorthodox mechanics, including the player playing someone playing an old-school PC adventure game, Stories Untold is unlike anything else out there.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

Falcom’s Kiseki series has always been considered an RPG series with a lower budget, but it made for it with strong characters and writing. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky exemplified this best, introducing us to a fantasy world with airships and magic (but in a more grounded fashion). As Estelle Bright, players embark on a journey to become a full-fledged bracer, joined by Joshua and encountering all kinds of characters and occurrences along the way. Despite a slow start, the first game offers an amazingly realized world, a solid battle system with challenging fights, and an incredible soundtrack that’s still memorable

Mad Max

Another post-apocalyptic open-world title that didn’t quite land with several critics, Mad Max was still a strong adaptation of the source material. Players scoured the wasteland, engaging in vehicular battles while scavenging for parts, but ventured on foot to interact with various survivors and infiltrate strongholds for some solid beat ’em up action. Despite how monotonous the environments could get, it was still worth checking out for fans.

CrossCode

With its 16-bit style visuals and addictive hack-and-slash combat, CrossCode is already one of the best action RPGs few have ever played. However, it also offers a massive world with dozens of hours of gameplay, a great story that plays with established MMO tropes, and one of the more well-written protagonists out there. Coupled with a fantastic soundtrack, it’s a wonder that CrossCode doesn’t have more players.

Tacoma

Gone Home from Fullbright understandably isn’t for everyone, but Tacoma, a sci-fi title focused on rewinding and reviewing conversations in an abandoned space station, is definitely worth checking out. The conversations in question occur via Augmented Reality, leading to the exploration of different spaces at different times of the recording to piece together what happened. It’s an engrossing mystery and a solid adventure title that deserves more attention.

Vanquish

While everyone talks about Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising and NieR: Automata, PlatinumGames’ Vanquish is nearly forgotten. It’s a shame because despite the corny story and voice acting, it offered a new take on cover-based shooting, with rocket-powered sliding encouraging one to reposition quickly. Slow-mo allowed for more precise shooting while memorable boss fights and scenarios added some style to the proceedings.

As Dusk Falls

Yes, it ends on a cliffhanger, and some parts could have been better, but as a narrative title about two families inspired by the likes of Fargo, As Dusk Falls is an intriguing adventure from INTERIOR/NIGHT. Players make decisions at different moments, causing the plot to branch extensively, and every little choice and QTE has an impact. With solid acting and writing, its story is begging for a continuation and an expansion of the unique presentation.

RETURNAL

One of the more recent releases in this feature, and also one of the more obvious entries. Housemarque has always been known for developing old school arcade bullet hell shooters that aren’t afraid of testing the skills of their players and pushing them to the absolute limits, and Returnal translates that formula into a full blown AAA 3D experience perfectly. From the very first second right until the last, this is a game that can be extremely punishing- but overcoming the challenges it throws at you never fails to delight, thanks to its tight shooting and movement mechanics, its perfectly balanced roguelike structure, and its progression mechanics, which strike the perfect balance between progress resets and permanent upgrades. It’s not for the faint of heart, no, but if you do like a little bit of challenge in you games, Returnal is unmissable.

THE ORDER: 1886

There’s no denying that The Order: 1886 didn’t exactly do justice to its premise, but at the same time, this is the sort of premise that could really have come into its own if it had been given the chance to build on its foundation and learn from its mistakes. The 2015 title looked gorgeous and transported players to a vividly imaginative setting, and we would have loved to see that idea being expanded and built upon in a sequel that worked to address its predecessor’s issues.

VANQUISH

Let’s get the most obvious pick out of the way first. Coming out at a time when the market was flooded with third person shooters, Vanquish provided something different, injecting flair and style into the combat. Vanquish feels excellent to play, and it’s a shame that it wasn’t played by way, way more people.

Vanquish

Rocket sliding into cover and vaulting over in slow-mo to gun down foes never looked or felt as good as it did in Vanquish. But even at roughly six hours for the main campaign, it just simply ended following the battle with Bogey Alpha and Bravo. No final battle with Victor Zaitsev, who subsequently escapes and destroys Providence. Even US president Elizabeth Winters, who sought to destroy Moscow with Providence’s microwave transmitter, simply kills herself. At least Sam and Elena survived so that’s nice.

For fans of over-the-top crazy action, particularly of the PlatinumGames variety, the Bayonetta and Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle is out now on PS4 and Xbox One. As the name indicates, it packs Bayonetta and Vanquish in one awesome package. Check out the release trailer below.

One of the studio’s most celebrated titles, Bayonetta follows the titular Umbral Witch as she battles demons and angels alike to learn more about her past. The hack and slash, combo-heavy action calls Devil May Cry to mind but with lots of crazy QTEs and boss battles. On the other hand, Vanquish is a cover-based shooter where you can rocket slide and shoot foes in slow-mo. Despite its short length, it’s action is insanely fun.

The Bayonetta and Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle costs $39.99 with both titles sporting updated visuals. They also support 4K resolution and 60 frames per second on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X so that’s a plus. A sleek steelbook, whose creation you can watch here, is also available with the physical edition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv-GSjT74nQ